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Let’s help Erin Howard and her family to fight her cancer battle.

$63,239 of $100,000 goal
Given by 337 generous donors in 6 weeks

Please help support the Howard family in giving Erin the best chance of remission & making as many special memories as they can together.

Macraes, Otago

On her 43rd birthday, Erin received shocking news that a recent lump removed from her hip was malignant melanoma & a terrible migraine, the result of the cancer spreading into 12 brain tumors, & elsewhere to her lungs & back.

She can no longer drive, or work. Surgery is not an option. Her current chemo drugs (dabrafenib & trametinib) have a 90% chance of shrinking her tumors but they are only expected to work for 3 months. They are not publicly funded & will cost at least $80,000. They will eventually stop working & the cancer will advance, so they hope to change to immunotherapy treatment (ipilimumab and nivolumab) to give her the best chance of survival. Should she respond (fingers crossed), the cost of this will be much more.

Tragedy has hit Erin before with her father, Constable Peter Umbers killed in the line of duty in the Maniototo in 1990, leaving her mother to raise her 2 daughters as a single parent. Watching her children adjust to her diagnosis, having had her own experience of dealing with the sudden loss of her father, is extremely difficult for Erin. Her focus is now on extending her precious time with her family, & creating a legacy by realising her dream of planting her own propagated native trees, on their farm for all to enjoy.

The offer of support received really does mean the world to Erin and her family. “My goal is to stay with them as long as possible & to become one of those people who were diagnosed and never quite died.”

Georgie McGregor's involvement (page creator)

Close friend.

Use of funds

The money will be spent on assisting with treatment costs (ipilimumab and nivolumab), allowing Erin to spend some special moments with her family and easing just some of the financial burdens such a tragic time can bring to a family.

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Latest update

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Trees a Living Legacy For Family  9 November 2024

Here is a lovely story about Erin and her family written by journalist Sally Rae.

https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-people/trees-living-legacy-family#m390xrv8au5kl159c9i

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Latest donations

Forever loved grave care
Forever loved grave care 3 hours ago
$25
Forever loved grave care
Forever loved grave care 4 hours ago
$25
Forever loved grave care
Forever loved grave care 4 days ago
$25
Debbie Francis
Debbie Francis 4 days ago
Wishing you the best Erin - from an ex Maniototoite!
$100
Forever loved grave care
Forever loved grave care 4 days ago
$15

Who's involved?

Georgie McGregor's avatar
Created by Georgie McGregor
Erin and Craig Howard's avatar
Paying to a verified bank account of Erin and Craig Howard
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This campaign started on 26 Oct 2024 and ends on 25 Feb 2025.